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Scientific: Geoffroea decorticans
Common: Chilean palo verde, Chanar, Kumbaru
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Origin: South America mostly in northern semi-arid dry forest regions of Chile, also occurs sparsely in Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina.

Pronounciation: Gee-o-FRO-ee-a dee-CORE-ti-cans

Hardiness zones
Sunset
12-13
USDA 9-11

Landscape Use: Accent, light shade, xeriscape landscape design themes.

Form & Character: Rounded and spreading, inner canopy stiff and rigid, aggressive, wild and desert like.

Growth Habit: Semi-evergreen, woody, perennial small tree, appears to be moderate to 25-feet tall with equal to greater spread, often produces root suckers away from the main trunk that can ultimately grow into trees themselves to for thickets.

Foliage/Texture: Very small pinnately compound leaves, leaflets rounded to 1/4-inch long and in multiple pairs, light green, trunk character is outstanding; medium fine texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Wonderful profuse arrangement of orange yellow small flowers, fruit a small pod.

Seasonal Color: Orange flowers in early spring after late winter orange foliar color.

Temperature: Tolerant

Light: Full sun

Soil: Tolerant

Watering: Very infrequently, water this tree like you would a Parkinsonia tree.

Pruning: Elevate canopy base, establish branch architecture as it tends to have a somewhat irregular inner branch pattern.

Propagation: Seed

Disease and Pests: None

Additional comments: Chilean palo verde is not commonly seen in Phoenix landscapes and is even less commonly grown by local nurseries. Mature tree specimens were once located at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. This interesting tree has a pesky side; it has a pretty strong tendency to grow root suckers forming thickets and will occassionally reseed.